Gunmen intercepted a commercial bus on the Enugu-Abakaliki highway, abducting 11 students. The attack occurred near the Amechi-Idodo area, just before the Enugu/Ebonyi boundary.
Sources indicate that the assailants, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, carried out the abduction on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. This stretch of road, notorious for frequent attacks, saw yet another tragic event despite the presence of multiple military and police checkpoints.
A relative of one of the kidnapped students, Ogene Festus, expressed his frustration over the incident. “It’s baffling how kidnappers operate so freely in an area with numerous checkpoints. They are demanding a ransom of N30 million, which is impossible for us to raise.”
Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen, dressed in military uniforms, managed to intercept the bus despite the heightened security. The victims were traveling from Awka, Anambra State to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
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The Enugu State Police Command, alongside their Ebonyi counterparts, is actively investigating the incident. Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, stated that both states’ police commissioners are working together to curb the rising kidnappings on this route.
In response to the increasing insecurity, Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has instructed security agencies to intensify their efforts in combating these criminal activities. Despite the governor’s directive, the frequency of such incidents remains a significant concern for travelers and residents alike.
